Applied Geometry Curriculum Review

A place to discuss the current curriculum revisions started at the March 5th in-service. The group will reconvene at the May in-service.

Consistency in Exam Grading

Right now there is no set common procedure for grading the math exams throughout the district. Should we have a set rubric of grading the main portions of the exams and a set (less subjective) rubric of grading the open-ended? Suggestions?

Review sheets for Open-ended assessments?

There has been some discussion in the department about whether we should use review sheets for the open-ended portion of our district exams. Your courteous thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

2-step equations in Math 7, 2nd Q

Chrissy Nordmark made the following observation, and she is correct in what she noticed.

"I noticed that there is a 2-step problem on the Math 7 midterm, yet 2-step problems are not on the curriculum? Are we supposed to teach 2-step problems?"

So now the question is this – should we fix the curriculum to include 2-step equations, or should we fix the exam to exclude 2-step equations? I can make this decision myself, but I would prefer that a consensus be reached among the teachers of math 7. Your input is appreciated. The changes would not take effect until next year.

Sam.

Math 7 text

Please post your comments and opinions about the sample texts and materials that are being reviewed for everyone to see. We currently are reviewing Glencoe and McDougal-Littell texts. Please pass your samples to other teachers in your buildings for their perusal. A book representative from Prentice Hall will be at GAR during the December 23rd in-service for volunteers wanting to hear the pitch. Reps usually bring free stuff! Let me know if you will be attending. A book representative from Glencoe will be making a pitch as a breakout session at the Jan 29th in-service. I will send an online form to sign up for breakout sessions after the December Holiday break.

Embedded Learning - share with ALL the study groups here

Although we have the opportunity to share online with our study groups and in person with the groups within our own schools, we rarely get a chance to help each other as a department. Feel free to type and/or paste any insights or comments you have regarding the Embedded Learning course in this post. I suggest you label your comments specifically to save your colleagues time. For example, "Some thoughts on the Student Thinking Patterns discussion" or "Help needed for Unit 3 sync point discussion" would be helpful.

7th and 8th grade calculator use

Calculator use in 7th and 8th grade is a very hot topic right now. We somehow have to strike a balance between what we know is best for the mathematical development of our students with their performance on the 7th and 8th grade PSSA tests. I will post some of the discussion that has already occurred on this issue. Furthermore, here is a little light reading that is related to the discussion:

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/03/19/28math_ep.h27.html

Algebra 2 -- CP Geom flip-flop

I have heard for years that we should "fix" our course sequence regarding CP Geometry and Algebra II. The sequence was originally chosen to cater to non-advanced CP students who would be taken the SAT once in the middle of their junior year. With our current sequence, these students would have completed geometry before their SAT test. This is not the concern it once was, since students have many chances to take the SAT -- as late as the fall of their senior year if they want. There are several things for us to consider here: PSSA preparation, SAT prep, How does a switch affect Trig/Alg III? How does the switch affect Alg II? How does the switch affect CP Geom? Are CP Geom teachers willing to teach Alg II for one year (during the transition)? A lot to chew on... Start grazing!

Graphing Calculator policy

Although most teachers assign graphing calculators as if they were books, not all do. A policy regarding this is coming. If you have any suggestions for such a policy, please post them here. Thanks -- Sam.

Feedback on PSSA administration...

The PSSA testing schedule was a little different this year than in the past. Please post what worked, what didn't work or suggestions for next year. Thanks -- Sam.

CP Geometry Midterm and Ch.5

It has been suggested to me that the CP Geom midterm only include Units 1-4 next year. If any of you would like to weigh in on the subject, post a comment here. I will paste the emails that have been sent to me earlier in the year on the subject with their authors.